Family of bride killed by DUI driver in SC speaks out

(2 May 2023)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Folly Beach, South Carolina - 2 May 2023
1. SOUNDBITE (English) Lisa Miller, Samantha Miller’s mother:
“Her face was just- Lit up like. I have described it just like light coming off her face. She was just so happy and She actually told Aric in the golf cart on their way back to their place where they were staying at the Airbnb where we got ready. She said, I want this night to last all,”
MANDI JENKINS (sister): “forever”
MILLER: “Forever. And that probably was 40 minutes before the drunk driver plowed her down.”
++BLACK FRAMES++
2. SOUNDBITE (English) Lisa Miller, Samantha Miller’s mother:
“One of the members of the other family came by and said, ‘Did you hear about the accident? Get in the car.’ And so we got it got in the vehicle with her. And she took us down the street where the scene was, and me and my daughter were running down the street holding hands, screaming Samantha's name. Sam. Sam, where are you? It was. That part was horrible.”
++BLACK FRAMES++
3. SOUNDBITE (English) Lisa Miller, Samantha Miller’s mother:
“Then my- Sam's dad called me and said that Sam wasn't at the hospital. She was still on the scene and that he had identified her by her tattoo.”
MANDI JENKINS: “That she was gone.”
++BLACK FRAMES++
4. SOUNDBITE (English) Lisa Miller, Samantha Miller’s mother:
“Just feels like it's a really bad movie. Like it's bad enough to get killed by a drunk driver. But you got killed on your wedding night in your wedding dress and plowed down.”
++BLACK FRAMES++
5. SOUNDBITE (English) Lisa Miller, Samantha Miller’s mother:
“She doesn't ever want people to be sad or mad like that’s what I'm saying like, Sam doesn't want this to destroy our lives. We know that.”
++BLACK FRAMES++
6. SOUNDBITE (English) Lisa Miller, Samantha Miller’s mother:
“After that, the DJ shouts out, ‘Surprise dance for the most important person in the bride's life.’ And that was me. And it was- She did that for me. And that's Sam. Like, I didn't know she planned that whole thing. And we danced to Bruno Mars’ “just the way you are” because that was our song.”
++BLACK FRAMES++
7. SOUNDBITE (English) Mandi Jenkins, Samantha Miller’s sister:
“In the circumstances that we're in, I don't want to give this person who killed my sister. Because she made a terrible mistake that has changed our lives and a lot of lives forever. So bringing awareness to what drunk driving can really do. We're a real- we're a real family..”
++BLACK FRAMES++
8. SOUNDBITE (English) Lisa Miller, Samantha Miller’s mother:
++VIDEO AS INCOMING++
“One bad decision just affected so many people, Aric's family, our family, all the people that were at that wedding that I mean, people came from everywhere to go to Sam's wedding because she touched people everywhere she went. Everybody loved Sam.”
++BLACK FRAMES++
9. SOUNDBITE (English) Lisa Miller, Samantha Miller’s mother:
“Your decision to just, you know, risk it and you're actually risking somebody else's life and you just ruined, I don't know, how many people's lives, you know, this girl just impacted so many people.”
++BLACK FRAMES++
10. SOUNDBITE (English) Mandi Jenkins, Samantha Miller’s sister:
“If we can save one other family from going through what we're going through. I have two daughters now, my mom's first grandchildren, and I couldn't imagine. So it's hitting me harder because I know what she's feeling, because I would not want to be here if something happened to my kids.”
++ENDS ON SOUNDBITE++
STORYLINE:
“Sam doesn’t want this to destroy our lives," Lisa Miller said. "We know that.”
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[@marietaylor9032]

She would want her last name her husbands do the Right thing

[@Linda-oc2zh]

Two seperate funerals! Now the mother is saying she was sam miller 30something yrs an only got married 4 -5 hours ago so shes Miller

[@patrickmoss2244]

I’m so very sorry for what happened. It’s absolutely horrible

[@daniellove5414]

RIP Samantha Hutchinson

[@evelyncarrion9120]

How can you forgive?? There’s no way to forgive. 😖

[@eorlover72]

Note the greedy mom is fighting her daughters husband for money

[@parkerbeard6170]

I'm so sorry for the Bride and Grooms Family for what they've had to deal with. I feel so bad for the Husband more. I'm not sorry for the Drunk Driver, she made a careless decision, and she needs to be punished for this! She also has to live with this the rest of her life

[@Linda-oc2zh]

now they are at war because of the Mom

[@andysdestination8671]

Soo horrible tragedy. So sorry for they’re lost at the weddings night. Very heart broken for all of them. Prayers for all. 😞😞😞💔💔💔🙏🙏🙏

[@BrotherBoresIsBest]

Very sad. Even moreso when I saw that Sam was in her 30s. I thought she was closer to her mom’s age. Still just started living.

[@elchamber]

Lisa Miller just want the money. She doesn’t care about Samantha.

[@aprilb1920]

If you know that your Daughter was happy Why are you asking that people refer to her as her Maiden name?

[@Linda-oc2zh]

$$$$$ and control! I wonder what they did with wedding gifts?

[@suzyQ7176]

I'm so so sorry for the loss of beautiful Sam. Such a tragedy especially on the happiest day of her life. Sending love and hugs from Australia 🇦🇺

[@hannajanediluvio3548]

This is just so heartbreaking! I couldn't stop crying hearing how this story is. I pray for the family's peace and healing.

[@MAJIN-AI]

shes a snake going after money, save your stupid prayer lady

[@kirstenmannello3795]

I feel so sorry for groom and his Family and the brides Family. I hope that lady that committed is locked up for forever.

[@jascam1]

There is no DUI accident, accidents are things that happen out of your control like lighting, sinkholes etc., traffic crashes occur when drivers do dumb sh.T like drunk driving. DUI Investigator.

[@yolandaramirez9138]

I have no words is so sad truly sorry for your loss 🙏🙏🙏🙏

[@aaronbrigham4743]

I am profoundly sorry for the loss of your Daughter/Sister you deserve justice I'm right there with you I think Jamie should deserve 50 to 60 years in prison I am so sorry you guys have suffered through this I'm on your side and you can include me as a witness as well prayers go to you and your family. 💪🇺🇲❤️❤️

[@thepamela050]

Shame this mother has to be so greedy towards her son in law..

[@stacywallace6187]

She touched a lot of lives with her story. Truly sorry for your Families humongous Loss. sending lots of Love. ❤

[@TriceyXo]

This is so sad, the fact the happiness day of their lives became one of the worst due to someone else's irresponsibility to have the common decency not to drink, and drive is so sad, this poor girl was so happy to have gotten married only to not be able to even enjoy it fully due to her being taken so sweet, I don't even know Samantha Miller, but she seemed like a genuine, kind soul who got the short end of the stick. My condolences goes out to her friends, family, and her husband, I hope they get the justice they deserve and Samantha can rest peacefully knowing she left a lasting impression, and a beautiful impact on so many peoples live in the most loveliest ways possible 😇🙏🕊️

[@debbiejames3096]

No forgiveness, EVER.

[@janetmainor8364]

And now this woman is fighting her son in law for money. She is greedy

[@julieromero7219]

Drunk drivers have been murdering innocent people for years, and years. 30 years in prison, or worse should be happening

[@rustyshackleford4614]

Sam wanted her last name, and yall are treating her husband terrible. Terrible awful situation losing your daughter, and im sorry for that, but let her rest in peace. Attacking her husband is extremely low!

[@shelleywright7474]

She was so happy , but your questioning the validity of her marriage? Wicked Women!

[@barbarboyland2877]

Praying for you all always Iam very sorry what a beautiful couple and wedding prayers to all the family

[@aaronbrigham4743]

Where can I go to donate money to the victims of this horrible catastrophe can somebody let me know because I do care and I like to help those in need.💗🙏

[@mattyreardon3593]

I'm so sorry for your loss. Here in Australia we have a zero tolerance to drink driving and all police have the power to breath test you anywhere anytime. They do it randomly all the time. We also have huge police buses that setup and test hundreds of people in a shift and if you're caught you will lose your license immediately and also face a court and have to do a drink driving education course. Repeat offenders can be jailed and lose their license for years. We also have a random drug testing for drivers too. This has definitely curved the problem. Once again I'm sorry for your loss.

[@kentkearney6623]

Gestapo has too much power.

[@skatingcanuck9837]

North America could learn from your drunk driving and gun control laws.

[@suzyQ7176]

@@skatingcanuck9837 yeah here in Australia 🇦🇺 the gun laws are much better and like Matty said in his comment is 100% right. I just feel for the groom and his family and Sam's family his lost the love of his life. I hope this woman gets real hard jail time

[@ninamc1]

Bless you all!

[@kentkearney6623]

You better FORGIVE, or you will not be FORGIVEN. I pray you work out your pain. Know the DUI man is feeling horrible . I pray for him too. He gets prison. None of this is fair. Your unforgivable hatred will shorten your life. So find Yeshua.

[@Idontknowlolk]

What the hell are you even talking about? Also you obviously have no clue what you are talking about as the most simple fact you got wrong. The drunk driver is female, if you actually looked into this story at all you would see that right off the bat.

[@evelyncarrion9120]

Would you be able to forgive if it were your daughter or sister???

[@angelaarmstrong4941]

Where the hell is your empathy and humanity? Seriously!!!

[@yogabee2222]

You have no right to tell them that they have to forgive! It's a choice just like drinking and driving

[@evelyncarrion9120]

@@yogabee2222 absolutely! Must religious fanatic… go figure 😏 It was a woman that killed that poor bride and injured 3 others. She EVEN refused to take the sobriety test on the scene. I would never forgive that and I hope she rots in jail.

[@heathercrary6002]

It makes me sick to see this woman

[@chikodiibe4211]

so sad, sadly this is not new. countless lives have been lost because someone drove drunk. young and old, please do not drink your life, you can kill someone and ruin yours....

[@heathercrary6002]

So you decide to sue the person she loved ;/

[@Emlane09]

That mom looks tough

[@adrienneromelle2816]

The most important person in her life (Samantha's) is her husband!

[@Linda-oc2zh]

see more clips of the mother shes a kook!

[@fatimamarsden7879]

How sad… I feel so much for this family 😢 Justice must be served.

[@phuongvo3051]

Please don’t forgive the woman kill your sister , let she sit in prison , for the rest of her life ,

[@yordanoshaile5672]

How makes upset by stupid mistakes to took human lives 😢😢😢😢

[@yordanoshaile5672]

Hey Drinkers please if you’re drink don’t drive !!!!

[@daisymaisy4877]

They're ao brave⚘️⚘️⚘️

[@cordeliamartin3077]

That so sad make me so sad she was a special daughter

[@coastal5228]

Why would they do that interview??

[@dar7230]

Money

[@Linda-oc2zh]

im waiting for her to be on the Dr Phil show@@dar7230

[@howardstern8720]

Time to move on to other more important matters

[@phantompinoy]

Not until there’s justice

[@Linda-oc2zh]

trial supposed to be in March@@phantompinoy

[@markgordon8146]

From this earth...to Jesus Christ...in a second...no more tears........

[@billcipher3946]

Shut up